Shea Charles

Crow, mon, get it copy and pasted there's a good lad.

 

Save anyone else having to click on the rag

 

Celtic are interested in a loan for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles - but don’t want to include him in a deal for Matt O’Riley.

The Northern Irish international is one of a number of options that the Hoops are looking at to strengthen their engine room. A deal to sign Paulo Bernardo from Benfica should be announced soon but Rodgers also wants to bring in another midfielder. That could go up again if star man O’Riley is sold. Record Sport exclusively broke the story that Italian side Atalanta wanted the playmaker

They have since had a number of bids rejected. Atalanta remain the frontrunners although Southampton also remain keen. Neither club has been able to come to an agreement with Celtic. Saints boss Russell Martin has previously worked with O’Riley at MK Dons. Celtic also want Charles but if they were to press the button on it then they would prefer a separate loan. Southampton signed the 20-year-old from Manchester City in 2023.

 

Definitely take if it doesn’t involve O’Riley but the fact he cost 15m last year and played a lot makes it as good as a no go for an option to buy.

We have been missing his profile in Europe the last couple years, as good as Cal Mac is, I think he’s pretty poor defensively. Quite often lets players run off the back of him at that level for us in Europe and also for Scotland.

 

Russell Martin has told Celtic there's "not a chance" that Southampton will let Shea Charles go as things stand.

The Hoops are keeping tabs on the versatile Northern Ireland international with a view to a potential loan deal. Charles, 20, impressed during his debut season at St Mary's, making 38 appearances after arriving from Manchester City last year. The young holding midfielder - who can also play central defence or right-back - has played in every pre-season friendly for the Saints so far this summer

However, the starlet is regarded as a back-up to Flynn Downes, who recently made his loan move from West Ham permanent. Martin is in the market for further reinforcements, with Celtic star Matt O'Riley one of his top targets. And the Southampton boss has warned that Charles won't be allowed to leave until he makes further additions.


With the squad as it is right now, not a chance", he told the Daily Echo. "We need some reinforcements, I think. Ben Brereton Diaz is a good one but we need to make sure we get a few more in the building before the start (of the Premier League) if we can


Obviously, the transfer window stupidly, annoyingly and madly goes on until the end of August, which gives all the bigger clubs a massive advantage. It is what it is. So, yeah, we will bring some people in and assess the situation - but Shea was good tonight (against Oxford United)

 

Really can't see why Southampton would loan him out when they only signed him 12 months ago and he featured in 38 games for them last year. Only 20 with a good pedigree coming through the City academy, really can't see why they'd loan or sell to be honest.

 

Should turn round a tell Southampton there's not a chance we let O'Riley go as things stand.

 

He would be a goalie surely with they big sausage fingers and the lugs to fill the net..

 

Every time he pulls off a great stop, the Hun commentators will give it, ‘good save the King…’